VIEWPOINT

Smale has a few final thoughts and words of advice

By Mike Smale, Current Staff

That’s it. I’m done.

After four years of attending West Bend East, I can now turn the page to a new chapter of my life. Many seniors are extremely happy that they can now carry on with their lives. I, however, am not all so eager to move on. In fact, I find myself remembering and reflecting on my years in high school.

Looking back, there’s something I discovered: this school has changed a lot. There are many small things that have changed, grown, or disappeared altogether. Just look at this small list of remembrances about my freshman year four years ago: Continue reading →

Students at West Bend East and West High took home seven individual awards in the 2015 NEWSPA contest for student journalism. The West Bend Current also earned blue ribbon honors for online publication. Continue reading →

Students and staff are now welcomed into the high schools by new, positive signs.

Assistant Principal Dave Uelmen describes the new signs, which are posted in hallways and other common areas, as being all about optimism. “Instead of saying in the hallway ‘don’t run, don’t tell, don’t hit’, it’s framing expectations in a positive way,” Uelmen said. Continue reading →

Managing the biggest restaurant in the county is a huge task, but Lynne Gross has been doing it for a long time.

As the director of school nutrition for the school district, Gross is the brains behind the school breakfast and lunches. However, after a 33-year reign, Gross will retire at the end of the school year. Continue reading →

In November, Simon Huth experienced the exotic thrill of a lifetime—sitting in the cold for hours.

Huth, a German exchange student from Frankfurt, embarked on the classic Wisconsin tradition of gun deer hunting during opening weekend. This casual tradition for West Bend students was a foreign experience for Simon. Continue reading →

The rumor mill was in full force following last week’s student-led protest march. The Current staff writers Kara Conley, Miranda Paikowski, and Mike Smale separate fact from fiction.

Rumor: The march was a success, as it led to the school returning to seniors the right to create a wall mural and attend the Every 15 Minutes program in spring.

Fact: The riot did not result in these decisions. The official decision to once again make both juniors and seniors the attending classes for the Every 15 Minutes program was made prior to the hall pass uproar. “I had been thinking of changing the participating grades from juniors and seniors to juniors and sophomores. This was simply a proposal, and I was already leaning towards keeping it the way it has been,” said Ralph Schlass, assistant principal, in an interview with Miranda Paikowski. According to Schlass, he had decided a few days before the riot to have seniors participate once again. This announcement, although made on Thursday, was not related to the march whatsoever. Continue reading →

Workers install new seats as part of the auditorium renovation project.

By Mike Smale, Current Staff

Right now, one of the nation’s premier orchestras is scheduled to play at a construction site.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is going to perform at the WBHS auditorium on Dec. 9, according to school principal Bill Greymont. But with only a few weeks left to meet that date, the auditorium renovation project is heading for a photo finish. Continue reading →

Normally history lessons come from the social studies department, not the main office. But administrative assistant Ruth Ruh had plenty to share when the office received an unexpected blast from the past. Continue reading →

Students at West Bend East and West High took home seven awards in the 2014 NEWSPA contest for student journalism.

The Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association gave blue ribbon honors to Natalie Wanasek for her academic news writing and to Mike Smale for his feature photography. Smale led all staff members with three prizes. All awards were given to The West Bend Current, the news blog advised by Eric Beltmann. Continue reading →

Brian Corazzi is thrilled to finally have a parking pass, but his wallet doesn’t share his enthusiasm.

By Mike Smale, Current Staff

At the beginning of second semester, East sophomore Brian Corazzi was finally able to use his new driving privileges and start parking at the high school.

“I enjoy being able to park in the parking lot,” said Corazzi. “It is expensive, though.”

This momentous step in Brian’s high school adventure set his checking account back a hefty $66.50. That’s because the West Bend High Schools have one of the highest parking pass rates in the area. Continue reading →

Rachael Wolfgram, East senior, examines an actual human brain while on a special trip to the UW-Washington County campus.

By Mike Smale, Current Staff

When she attended a science lecture, Kylie Schulz didn’t expect to wind up unconscious on the floor.

Kylie, an East junior, fainted during a cadaver dissection at the UW-Washington County campus on Monday, December 2. She is a student in Skip Clark’s human anatomy class, and the class was on an evening field trip to UWWC for a special lecture and the chance to see a real human cadaver and other dissected body parts. Continue reading →

What are your thoughts about public
displays of affection in the hallways?

“I think that students do not need to show affection in school. It is disturbing to look at. It begs the question, how do you feel sitting in class with a teacher who just watched you perform a tonsillectomy on your significant other five minutes ago in the hallway?”Allison Craighead, East senior

In November, the days get shorter, but in West Bend, the beards get longer. “No-Shave November” is happening.

At the high school level, there seems to be little reason behind letting beards grow besides just for fun. However, No-Shave November has a merit. The idea, set forth by the American Cancer Society, is to have folks let their hair grow in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer. The participants embrace their hair, something that cancer patients can lose. Then the money not spent on shaving or grooming, or money raised by general donations, is donated to the Cancer Society for awareness and research purposes. Continue reading →